Wine, Dine, & Party! (Part 2) - The Road to Toronto!!!

Many of you may or may not know I'm here in Toronto now, arriving just a week ago on Thursday.  I do hope I'll have some exciting stories to share of my adventure, but first I must cover my journey leading up to my departure from Ireland.....  Which consisted of seeing many people for meal, drinks, party or what not!!!  

What's cooking, Mr Miah....?Working with the 2008 TEAM Jumping on My Shadow crowd would certainly be one of my most enjoyable experience as a professional actor.  We all shared a wonderful time together, countless laughs on the road, and a fun-filled touring show, I was glad to have the opportunity to sit down for dinner with Dave and Georgina once again! 

Dave Ferguson, the original Mr. Miah from TEAM's Jumping on My Shadow, played host offering to cook up a wonderful meal while we all enjoyed a few glasses of wine. 

This Chilean dish Dave whipped together, king prawn Jambalaya was firey hot & spicy.....!!!  Nice........ 

We enjoyed the food and drinks while reminising on the past fun times, when suddenly we had a surprise guest turning up.................

It was our old touring stage manager, Kate Ferris!!!  It has been a good while since I've seen our Australian friend, and wasn't even aware she was back working in Ireland.  So her appearance was a nice & most welcomed surprise. 

We all shared memorable times together on tour, and this re-union will go down as one we'll remember also. 

"Blame Canada!" Leaving PartyI'm never quite the one to hold a party, particularly not for my own cause that's for sure!  Personally I much prefer to meet up with individuals over lunch, tea or coffee so we can enjoy a proper catch up rather than to attempt to speak over loud blaring music.  However with so many people yet to see in so little time, what was intended to be a small get together with few friends for drinks had simply been re-arranged to an open invite to many of my friends as somewhat a going away party for me.I was even late for my own party.  And no, it was no intention to make a grand fashionable late entrance.....    In fact it was a slow enough start, my sister Susan and her fiancee, Dave the first ones there.  My buddy Ronan Barr eventually showed up though.  The first one there and last one to leave too.....  What a trooper (and drinker.....  ). 

The evening grew more eventful and more faces from the past and recent years came entering the bar.

Above are just few of the good people I got to know from my casual (in-between acting) job, the CATI call centre.     Another reason why I'm never too keen on these sort of leaving do's is because I don't know how many times I have had a leaving party from CATI and how many goodbyes I had said to the place, thinking I'm all set now after landing a comfy lengthy gig.........  But give it anytime between 4-9 months I just can't get out of that place, and I end up there again when needs be....... Hence you might understand why I was hesitant in having a leaving party for my going away to Canada in case it might jinx my return any sooner!!!

And then there is always my TEAM co-workers, Andy Blaikie (Mr Miah of Jumping on My Shadow2009) and our lovely administrator, Valeria.  Andy has always been a great drinking buddy, and his company shall be dearly missed............ 

Numerous friends from my drama training days both past and present were in attendance, including my good tutor, Neville Styles.  He has given me a lot of support through out my training and career, and has remained a good friend to this day since almost 5 years I had graduated.

My on-screen nemesis from Crib of Death but always good friend, Noel Anguier.  He was a fellow actor pulging away at CATI and I was delighted to get to know him.  We had always talked and joked about if there was ever an opportunity to work together, and I'm actually happy we had achieved that before my departure. Noel is actually due to head off to Canada also, but will be venturing West to Vancouver instead.  I'm sure we will meet up one of these day in future.....

He did it twice before during our production of Crib of Death, why not allow Cathal to make it three strikes lucky!!!

No love lost between us though....  Hehehe.....   Cathal is atalented actor I've had the pleasure to train and work with, an all-round nice guy, and one to look out for in future.

My family members also showed up with their partners and friends.  My sister, Susan had recently got engaged to her boyfriend of 2 years (eh, I think that's right..... ), Dave O'Reilly.  A genuine nice guy (and huge fan of MMA & UFC which is a plus.... ) and I am delighted for the both of them as they make a wonderful pair.

So it was an eventful evening to see so many faces on the one night.  There were people I didn't get to chat with more than I had wished to have, but overall I'm glad everyone there seemed to have enjoyed themselves. How bout a cuppa...?With theprevious evenings of drinking out of the way I was delighted to get to relax and enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage with some of my other close friends.

I have known my good friend here, Mo for years and despite she has moved around, abroad and beyond and eventually back to Ireland, we had remained in touch.  It was nice to get to see herself and her lovely sister, Maelys over a cup of tea and do bit of catch up.

One of my best friend, Christopher Noonan arrived back in Ireland from London the night before, so myself and another of our best friend, Pádraig (who is traveling to Toronto with me) got to do bit of catch up over some food and even enjoyed a cinema visit too.

Chris is always a great guy to talk to, and it certainly was nice to see him in person again. He had moved to London over two years ago to further his training in performance arts & musical theatre, and has since remained there to work in the industry.  I'm sure it wouldn't be too long till he'll be joining Pádraig and I over in The Big Smoke......!

Other friendly faces I got to hook up with for some tea or food (but never had the time to whip out the camera for any photos....  ) includes my Crib of Death director & partner in crime, Craig Woods; fellow AnD talented director & good friend Seamus Walsh; Róisín Deery, who also flew back from London to see Pádraig and I off; my former drama training classmate & fellow Muay Thai practitioner, Simon Fogarty who I hadn't seen in years; enjoyed a lunch time show with my former CATI colleagues, Stewart Roche, Mark Moloney, Colin Brennan. etc.

All those above and others I didn't have the opportunity to see in Ireland, I would surely miss.  A year isn't too long anyway, and the internet has proven to make the world so much a smaller place, it might not make any different where I am in the world now when I communicate with my friends!

That's hot, Folks!Igot to enjoy some nice hot pot goodies with my parents days before I left.  I've been so busy all over the place with things to sort out and people to see, I actually hadn't been home as much as I probably should have.  But I managed to spend a nice time over the boiling broth surrounded with yummy food and shared a bottle of wine with them.

My parents.  Gotta love them and miss them.

So long, Ireland!!!After less than 2 hours sleep, my sister and I headed off to the airport where we met up with my best friend and traveling companion, Pádraig D'Arcy.

Big hugs and goodbye to my sister, Sue........

.............. And we're on our way now! 

Since Pádraig and I hadn't booked our flights together, we didn't manage to get seats next to one another.  We did check-in at same time though, and he was in fact provided the seat directly in front of me

Probably worked out for the best after all, since the plane was bearly full we ended up having the whole three seat rows to ourselves allow us to rest out the legs.  Even lie down to catch much needed sleep we were both seriously lacking! 

There were some great in-flight entertainment though.

And my special request vegetarian meal wasn't so bad after all.  As far as airline food goes, Air Canada is pretty decent I must say..... 

A view from above over downtown Toronto district, getting ready to land.......

And I shall sign off with my exhausted visage during the take off.  As excited as I was, I was too tired and sleepy to exert or muster up a smile for the camera....    But as you read this blog - yes, I am excited to be here in Toronto and I wish to continue sharing my stories and adventures here (provided I have anything exciting to share...... )!!!! 

Peace & Best Wishes from Toronto,

Alan